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Tuesday, 19 March 2013

A day out at the Bemrose National Motorcycle Trial

There's
a point in the motorcyclists year whenoptimism
begins to filter into the thought processes. It's usually when the
calendar clicks over from February into March, and the effect is an
expectation that the temperature will climb inexorably towards double
figures, and most days will be dry.

It's
hard to escape this thinking, even when the meteorological records
are set before us. I remember a couple of years back that the first
rounds of the British Superbike series were cancelled because it
snowed...at Brands Hatch...in April. But like all the devout, nothing
will divert us from the path we have come to believe in and practice.
And so it was that I found myself dragging a bike out of the garage
on St Patrick's Day Sunday; intent on a ride into the Derbyshire Peak
District to watch riders tackle sections at the Bemrose National
Trial.

A
Question of Balance

It
was forecast to be dry and around eight degrees. I can cope with
that, but this figure is quoted as the expected peak temperature, and
it was a somewhat cooler as I topped up the tank around 9.30am. I'd
chosen to ride my 'hack' MZ660 over my 'best' Moto Guzzi, as I knew
I'd be navigating some very nadgery roads and tracks. The Guzzi did
tempt me; sitting there clad in its heated grips, but I enjoy the MZ.
The big single Yamaha XT engine that's fitted in this bike is such a
strong motor and a delight when blatting around narrow hilly terrain, and if I was hanging around trials sections, I needed to look the
part too.

A good dose of nerve

Trials
riding is such a civilised branch of motorcycle sport. It combines
all the skill elements of motorcycling, including a good dose of
nerve. But doesn't require large injections of cash to get set up and
continue participating.

For
those who haven't watched a trials event. The idea is simple -
traverse a laid out section of land with obstacles, without putting
your feet down or stopping. At the end of a competitive event, the
rider with least penalty marks wins. Sounds easy, except that,
depending on the category of event, trials sections can range from
a relatively easy hill with tree roots and logs to
manoeuvre across, to a nigh on impossible vertical rock face that
needs courage to even contemplate!

From difficult to impossible!

Last
year I spectated at a round of the World Championship, held in a
quarry near Penrith in Cumbria. Most of the sections ranged from
difficult to impossible. Yet, like those huge daunting obstacles you
can see at indoor arena trials events; the expert riders managed to
'clean' them – the term used to denote a completion of a section
with no loss of points – and it was wet.

The
Bemrose sections were scattered over an area of the Peaks south west
of Buxton. It would take me around one and half hours to ride there,
and after a few miles the finger tips began to lose warmth. But the
rest of the body was cosy, so continuous hand exercises were able to
keep enough warm blood reaching those extremities.

Psychologically it
didn't help that I knew a climb over the highest road in the
Pennines, Holme Moss, was coming up. The temperature dropped a couple
of degrees, and there's still a good smattering of snow up there,
with deep drifts nestled into the folds and cracks of the hills.
Bleak!

Despite the cold....

Not
bleak enough though to discourage the half dozen cyclists on the
hill. This is a popular torture for those who prefer pedal over
engine power, and next July it will be thronged with thousands,
lining the road to watch a stage of the Tour de France passing that
way.

Despite
the cold I was enjoying the ride on the big single. It's great riding
country across the south Pennines into the Derbyshire Dales, with
bends a plenty, dodgy road surfaces and the occasional strolling
sheep to keep concentration alert. While gear shifting and braking
helped keep frostbite at bay.

The
list of competitors and the route the organisers published on line gave
me an idea of where to head for to find the sections. At the junction
where I had to turn into the narrow Dales roads that are essentially
surfaced tracks serving farms and hamlets; there was a cafe and
store. I stepped across the threshold into a small world of warmth,
the source of which was a wood burning stove. My hands thawed and
throbbed as a coffee and hot chocolate cake were set before me. It's
these small moments of relatively simple pleasure that make personal
motorcycle memories.

Nice bit of snow to ride over

The Bemrose Trial

The
Bemrose Trial is now in its eighty-third year, and is run over a
forty mile course with twelve groups of sections for the one hundred
plus competitors: a seven hour time limit is allowed to complete the
course. Interestingly, and another sign of ageing motorcycle times,
the over forties category was the largest in the entry list. Though it
has to be said this is an 'ideal' sport for older riders. Modern
trials bikes are light, well balanced, low and easy to manage, that
is lift to upright if you topple in a section.

There's
also the practice (good for a breather), whereby riders stop at the
beginning of a section. Inspect the obstacles and choose their line.
Have a chat with the observer (marker), wait for their mates, and
engage in a bit of banter. Like I said earlier, very civilised. Oh, I
almost forgot. Most of the riders call out a thanks to the observer
as they leave the section.

Hollinsclough section

I
found the section group I was looking for in the pretty hamlet of
Hollinsclough. A steep, wet and rocky trail led to the section start
where the observer and photographer from Trials magazine were waiting
for the competitors to come through.

Looks so peaceful!

The
temperature had nudged up a few degrees for the ride home. My hands
had more feeling and feeling more comfortable encouraged some spirited
riding, with the reverberations from the big Yamaha/MZ silencer
bouncing off the dry stone walls when the revs were pushed to the
five thousand mark.

I
stowed the muddy MZ, and gave the boots a preliminary brush. The
forecasters tell of more cold, frost, fog and damp before any glimpse
of the Rite of Spring, sun on our backs, rides to the coast, touring
plans, race meetings, ferry bookings, and as I key these last few
words...it's snowing.

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